Win a trip to the State Dinner at the White House

Posted
Tuesday, May 29, 2012 1:00 pm

U.S. Senator Jack Reed wants Rhode Islanders to show off their culinary skills and win a trip to the first-ever kids’ State Dinner at the White House.

First Lady Michelle Obama, together with the U.S. Departments of Education and Agriculture and Epicurious.com, is launching a nationwide recipe challenge to promote healthy lunches, and the winner from each state will be invited to a White House Kids State Dinner this summer.

The Healthy Lunchtime Challenge & Kids’ State Dinner invites kids between the ages of 8 and 12 to work with their parents or legal guardian to create an original, nutritious lunchtime recipe that is “healthy, affordable and tasty.” Entries should represent each of the food groups, either in one dish or as parts of a lunch meal, including fruit, vegetables, whole grains, and protein and low-fat dairy foods. Entrants are encouraged to reference the nutritional guidelines of the USDA’s site, ChooseMyPlate.gov, to ensure recipes meet the primary criterion of being healthier.

“This is a great opportunity for kids and their parents to have fun and promote healthy eating. Plus, everyone knows Rhode Island has the best food in the country. The real challenge will be for the White House to select just one winner from our state,” said Reed.

The winning recipes will be available free to all in a downloadable and printable e-cookbook that features nutritional analysis, and photos and drawings of the recipes, available via the contest website, letsmove.gov, USDA.gov, and Ed.gov.

Recipes may be submitted now through June 17, either online or via mail at The Healthy Lunchtime Challenge, c/o Epicurious.com, 1166 Avenue of the Americas, 15th Floor, New York, NY 10036.

Winners will be notified on July 16. The White House Kids State Dinner is currently scheduled to take place in August. Winners will receive free air travel to Washington, D.C., and accommodations at a Westin Hotel. For more information and contest rules, visit www.recipecontest.epicurious.com.